Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture announces SBC as Associate Company
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture announces Stand and Be Counted as Associate Company as part of Cultural City of Sanctuary designation.
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Bradford has been officially named the first ever Cultural City of Sanctuary as it marks its year as 2025 UK City of Culture. A celebration of Bradford city and district, taking place across its city, towns, villages and greenspaces Bradford 2025 tells the story of Bradford people, inclusive of all its communities.
The Cultural City of Sanctuary designation will be delivered this year by Bradford Culture Company, the team behind Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. It will underscore the crucial role that people seeking sanctuary (refugees and asylum seekers as well as people seeking other forms of protection) play in Bradford’s vibrant culture and creativity fostering values of welcome, safety, compassion, understanding, unity and community.
The accolade was announced at a special event with Bradford Friendship Choir, a joyful singing sanctuary open to everyone, where many members are refugees and sanctuary seekers from countries in the Middle East, Africa and other places in the world – the choir were a key element of the Bradford 2025 opening event RISE in January.
Bradford 2025 also today announces a formal partnership with Stand & Be Counted theatre as an Associate Company, the UK’s first and leading Theatre Company of Sanctuary who co-create work with and for people seeking sanctuary, celebrating, platforming and ensuring equality of opportunity.
Through collaboration with Stand & Be Counted, Bradford 2025 is building a framework for accessibility, learning, and opportunities, ensuring every aspect of the City of Culture programme is inclusive and accessible for people seeking sanctuary by:
• Creating routes into volunteering and other participation opportunities
• Distributing tickets and supporting visits to cultural activity working with community partners
• Running weekly creative sessions for people seeking sanctuary
• Developing creative engagement activity to work alongside Basel Zaraa’s artwork inspired by The Moomins and the Great Flood, the first Moomin story published 80 years ago which mirrors the realities of millions of displaced people seeking refuge.
• Bradford 2025 is also launching a creative writing programme for new arrivals to Bradford
• And working with Displace Yourself Theatre on providing Trauma Informed Practice training for team members.
Rosie MacPherson, Artistic Director and Joint CEO, Stand & Be Counted
"We're so thrilled that Bradford will be the first Cultural City of Sanctuary. It's an important moment to stand with people seeking sanctuary, and it's a great symbol of positivity and welcome. SBC have been working in Bradford for many years, and we know this milestone and work across lots of incredible organisations will have a huge impact on people seeking sanctuary being seen, supported and involved in all of the incredible productions and programmes in Bradford across 2025 and beyond."
Rhiannon Hannon, Director of Creative Engagement at Bradford 2025 said:
“Our ambition for the City of Culture is not just to celebrate Bradford’s creativity but also to ensure that people seeking sanctuary have equal access to the programme’s opportunities and this designation highlights that. Furthermore, we are pleased to partner with Stand and Be Counted, who bring expertise in working with people seeking sanctuary and can guide us in making sure the year’s programme and activities are a truly inclusive celebration of our district.”
Furaha Mussanzi, Deputy Music Director of Bradford Friendship Choir said:
“Singing the solo for RISE is hands down one of the greatest experience and opportunity of my life so far. This Bradford lass came to Bradford 22 years ago with her family as a refugee, fleeing a war that has since claimed the lives of over 6 million people. I'm a survivor, I couldn't speak a word of English and had to overcome so many challenges. Being part of the Bradford Friendship Choir as Deputy Music Director over the last 9 months has really boosted my confidence and allowed me to grow in my skills and work on my craft.”
Bradford 2025 has been working with other local and national partners, including organisations like City of Sanctuary and Displace Yourself Theatre, to ensure that the voices of sanctuary seekers are central to the planning and delivery of the year’s activities.
In 2010, Bradford was one of the first UK cities to be officially recognised as a City of Sanctuary. The district continues to lead the way with exemplary practices in creativity for, with, and by people seeking sanctuary. Local initiatives like Bradford Friendship Choir, Displace Yourself Theatre, and the Intercultured Festival exemplify the community spirit that has long defined the city, which is also proud to hold the designation of University of Sanctuary.
Bradford 2025 is further strengthening its partnerships with City of Sanctuary, Bevan, the University of Bradford, and other cultural organisations supporting people seeking sanctuary, including Bradford Museums and Galleries, Bradford Libraries and the Intercultured Festival.
Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture is delivered by Bradford Culture Company, a charity supported by public investment from HM Government, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and through National Lottery funding from Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, Spirit of 2012, British Film Institute and a number of trusts, foundations and corporate sponsors.
